Staring Lens

M

magixx

New member
I've been looking at previous topics similar to mine to see what others have said about the kit lens and generally the kit lens were not favored unless they were the expensive 15-85mm IS USM lens. Now after comparing the GH1 and the 7D, I to like the 7D more, but since it is more expensive, choosing a good starting lens will be more difficult.

The current options all involve traveling 400km(to Toronto, Canada) so I'd like to make a right decision. The current kits for sale are priced as such:

Canon 7D Body Only NEW - $1610US; seems like a decent price, especially since I do not live in the US

Canon 7D with 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens NEW - $1900US

Canon 7D with 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens NEW - $2000US

If I go for the body only, the most I could spend on a lens would be $400US since buying locally would be unlikely and I would have to get it shipped from the US which would cost around $50.
I don't think I will use this camera for any processional video shooting now so quality can suffer a little now until I get more money. I would also like to use the camera for photography so currently if the lens I get would be amazing for video but horrible for photography than that would not be the best choice for me.
 
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I think this is a good starting lens for your 7D:

(this is an Australian site and price by the way)

Tamron 17-50mm f2.8

http://www.dwidigitalcameras.com.au/store/product.asp?idProduct=2416

It also has IS (which Tamron calls VC - Vibration Compensation).

One thing to mind though - this is an APS-C lens only - so it will not work with a sensor larger then APS-C (e.g. 5DMKII, 1DMKIV).

Canon makes a similar lens, which is full-frame too, but it's about $400 more:

http://www.dwidigitalcameras.com.au/store/product.asp?idProduct=823
 
Sorry I forgot to post the Country. I am located in Canada, which is almost as bad as Australia with consumer prices.
I also doubt I will get another camera in the next 3-4 yeas so APS-C only lens would be fine.
 
My recommendation (if you care for it)…

Get the 18-135mm kit lens package. Shoot with it. Learn your way around the 7D for a bit. Save some money.

Then, after you've shot for a while and get a sense of which focal lengths you like to shoot with more, use the money you've saved up to get a prime or two in that focal range.

And there's always a tripod, a microphone, an external sound recorder, filters…
 
Hmmmm, I see. Perhaps just go with the 18-135mm kit, and like stephenmick said, cut your teeth on that lens.

Question though - do you think you will be shooting much video in low light situations? Cause the 18-135mm is a little on the slow side for low light.
 
While I do not intend to do much low light shooting I am sure there will be cases, but right now it's not really a priority.
 
I will look into the one posted online, the downside to the one posted online is the shipping fee and import tax which is 13%/$260 which I will likely get charged with.
 
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